My attempt to provide a little insight from my experience on modifying a utility trailer to serve as an expedition trailer.
In 2002 I purchased a utility trailer from a company called Vintage Transport (4616 Enterprise Court, Diamond Springs, CA. 95619, 530.622.3046) This was the second trailer that I had purchased from this company after great luck with the first.
It was a basic utility trailer, 5’ x 4’ box, heavy duty axle, Line-X, Jeep lug nut pattern and had served me well hauling landscape materials, firewood etc, even going on a few camping trips in its basic configuration. At that time my thoughts were that this trailer would look great parked next to a real Adventure Trailer.
Plan A: Save money and by an Adventure Trailer, but with a kid in college and two right behind him, saving money has been a real challenge for me.
Plan B: With the help of Mario, Martyn and staff, and a little inspiration from Johnny Cash I would build an adventure trailer ‘one piece at a time’.
I started with the most critical components (in my mind) a Eezi-Awn 1600 Roof Top Tent (RTT) and wheels/tires that would be interchangeable with my Jeep spare. From the awesome trailer mods thread elsewhere on the forum I went with a Samuel Adams cast bottle opener mounted on the rear of the left fender, I actually flew to the brewery in Boston to ensure that I had an original and not some knock-off.
The RTT was mounted on three Yakima 58” bars and attached to the trailer using the Yakima rain gutter adapter. A Yakima bike rack was added onto the length of bar that extends about 8” to the side from the RTT. The tires I chose were BFG A/T’s (33”) on 16” steel wheels.
The future: I plan on mounting two Adventure Trailer Brand gas/water can mounts to the front after some metal reinforcements are in place. Where the tongue is welded to the box has been identified as a potential failure point with the added weight of gas and water. I also plan on installing a stabilizer at some point,
Conclusion: The trailer was designed as a utility trailer and not for expedition type use. I have had two welds fail on the side rails where the rear Yakima rain gutter mounts are attached. I suspect as I add more weight, more welds will fail. The utility trailer has no brakes, this never impacted me hauling things around town, but on a steep, loose trail with little room for error I would appreciate the added ability to slow/stop.
Mario and crew mounting the RTT
Kind of a tough pic, but you can see the failed weld at the vertical joint
In 2002 I purchased a utility trailer from a company called Vintage Transport (4616 Enterprise Court, Diamond Springs, CA. 95619, 530.622.3046) This was the second trailer that I had purchased from this company after great luck with the first.
It was a basic utility trailer, 5’ x 4’ box, heavy duty axle, Line-X, Jeep lug nut pattern and had served me well hauling landscape materials, firewood etc, even going on a few camping trips in its basic configuration. At that time my thoughts were that this trailer would look great parked next to a real Adventure Trailer.
Plan A: Save money and by an Adventure Trailer, but with a kid in college and two right behind him, saving money has been a real challenge for me.
Plan B: With the help of Mario, Martyn and staff, and a little inspiration from Johnny Cash I would build an adventure trailer ‘one piece at a time’.
I started with the most critical components (in my mind) a Eezi-Awn 1600 Roof Top Tent (RTT) and wheels/tires that would be interchangeable with my Jeep spare. From the awesome trailer mods thread elsewhere on the forum I went with a Samuel Adams cast bottle opener mounted on the rear of the left fender, I actually flew to the brewery in Boston to ensure that I had an original and not some knock-off.
The RTT was mounted on three Yakima 58” bars and attached to the trailer using the Yakima rain gutter adapter. A Yakima bike rack was added onto the length of bar that extends about 8” to the side from the RTT. The tires I chose were BFG A/T’s (33”) on 16” steel wheels.
The future: I plan on mounting two Adventure Trailer Brand gas/water can mounts to the front after some metal reinforcements are in place. Where the tongue is welded to the box has been identified as a potential failure point with the added weight of gas and water. I also plan on installing a stabilizer at some point,
Conclusion: The trailer was designed as a utility trailer and not for expedition type use. I have had two welds fail on the side rails where the rear Yakima rain gutter mounts are attached. I suspect as I add more weight, more welds will fail. The utility trailer has no brakes, this never impacted me hauling things around town, but on a steep, loose trail with little room for error I would appreciate the added ability to slow/stop.
Mario and crew mounting the RTT
Kind of a tough pic, but you can see the failed weld at the vertical joint
:elkgrin: :beer: